We were lucky to catch up with Brandin Hurley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Brandin, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I’m not sure anyone ever truly overcomes imposter syndrome. Being an adult seems to be realizing that you are now supposed to have the answers, but don’t, and continuing despite this knowledge.
For me, confidence has come from a steady creation of work over years. Sometimes this work was a disaster, but the more I work, the easier it becomes to believe that I will find joy in the final product. Every single project has a messy middle phase that makes me want to quit my practice, convinced that I should never make art again. The more projects I complete, the more I am able to trust my initial vision and process.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a freelance fine artist who works in many mediums but specializes in installation work. My work is inspired by the beauty and diversity found within our land and ecosystems, and our responsibility towards them.
Right now I’m lucky enough to be collaborating on a large installation with my friend and artist Shayne Taylor. It is a large piece spanning 40′ created from 23 translucent panels. The piece is a celebration of Midwest seasons, with a particular focus on the transitions between them. For the panels, we are utilizing flora and fauna submerged in white tinted resin to create an abstract painterly effect. Living with the knowledge that the structure and composition of our seasons will certainly change over the next decades, I feel compelled to acknowledge and preserve the feeling of this moment in time. We strove to accurately represent the feeling of each season, rather than a symbolic interpretation. The work’s messy tangle of crunched leaves, bent grasses, broken sticks, and overlapping petals feels like the countless walks we have taken through the seasons.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For my personal journey, my most valuable skill has been the blurring of lines between artistic genres. I started as a fine art painter, then transitioned to theatrical scenic design before exploring murals, public art, ceramics, glass, metal, resin, and paper. For many artists, immersing themselves in a single pursuit is extremely successful. I work best when I am not worried about labeling myself as an artist, but explore whichever material seems like the best fit for my current project. I also love to create art that feels immersive, which is a combination of my scenic design and fine art experience. Although I went to school for scenic design and didn’t become a scenic designer, it was invaluable experience. Working in theatre fostered skills that would allow me to find the installation and sculptural work that I absolutely love.
My suggestion would be to pursue whatever interests you in the moment. Take classes that don’t relate to your personal artistic medium. Assist an artist friend with their work. Read about subjects that you don’t normally incorporate into your work, but that interest you. Although this meandering may not lead you in a straight line to your ultimate goal, in my experience it makes you a better creator. It has also helped to keep me passionate and excited about my work.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The concepts in “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert have really stuck with me. She simplifies creativity and joy within that creativity to a startling degree. It’s difficult to summarize her beautiful sentiments about living a creative life, but I will try.
Her essential premises are :
-You are going to fail. That’s okay/good. Create well, create badly, just create.
-Create as much as you can with as little pressure on each creation as you can muster. You have to show inspiration that you are ready when it decides to visit.
-Be a trickster, not a martyr. You don’t need to suffer for your art. Approach the chaos of the universe with a laugh, not a scowl.
-Follow your curiosity wherever that takes you.
I also truly love “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Her way of describing our relationship with the natural world, as well as the sense of community and reciprocity she sees with our land and ecosystems is full of tenderness and hope.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brandinhurleystudio.com
- Instagram: brandin.hurley
